Dutch official in Aruba briefly held over Alabama teen’s disappearance

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ORANJESTAD, Aruba — A Dutch official in Aruba who was once held in connection with the disappearance of an Alabama teenager has petitioned a judge to clear him of suspicion in the case so that he can be rehired by the government, his lawyer said.

Natalee Holloway, 18, who was on high school graduation trip to the Dutch Caribbean island, was last seen May 30 leaving a bar with three young men — Dutch national Joran van der Sloot and Surinamese brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe. They were arrested on June 9 and later released.

Joran’s father, Paul van der Sloot, was arrested June 23 in connection with the case and was released on June 26.

Paul van der Sloot “is asking the judge to rule officially that he is not a suspect in the case,” said Arie Swaen, after coming out of the courthouse in the capital, Oranjestad, Friday.

An Aruban judicial official, the father has not gone to work since his arrest, but he has been receiving his salary.

His contract ends Dec. 31, and if his name is not cleared he cannot be rehired, said Swaen.

The judge will render his decision Nov. 11.

If his name is cleared, van der Sloot will file a wrongful arrest suit against the government, Swaen said.